Third Annual Forum: Joint Forum on Biomass, Biofuels, and Bioproducts

January 25-26, 2006
Radisson Hotel
Fresno, CA

The Joint Forum on Biomass, Biofuels, and Bioproducts was a combined event, comprised of the California Biomass Collaborative's third annual Forum, the California Institute of Food and Agricultural Research's Research Conference XXI, and the UC Merced Small Business Development Center's second annual Biofuels Conference. January 25th included a tour of Pacific Ethanol, with the main Forum taking place on the 26th in Radisson Hotel. Topics discussed during the Forum included:

• Biofuels and bioproducts: status of commercialization and future direction
• Biomass and biofuels: environmental issues
• Developing markets for renewable energy credits in California
• Status of state legislation on conversion technologies for municipal solid waste
• Update on the action plan for biomass in California
• Business development workshop

Program and Proceedings

Opening and Welcome – Forum Logistics, Agenda and Introductions

• Bryan Jenkins, California Biomass Collaborative; Sharon Shoemaker, California Institute of Food and Agricultural Research; Chris Rosander, UC Merced Small Business Development Center

Morning Keynotes: Federal and State Research Objectives for Biomass

• Lawrence J. Russo, Office of the Biomass Program, US Department of Energy
• Biomass R&D: An Important Part of California's Energy Investments Martha Krebs, Energy R&D Division, California Energy Commission

Session I: Biofuels and Bioproducts: Status of Commercialization and Future Direction
Moderator: Sharon Shoemaker, California Institute of Food and Agricultural Research

• Fuel Ethanol: Technology and Markets Beyond the Renewable Fuel Standard, Luca Zullo, Cargill, Inc.
• Enzymes for Ethanol from Lignocellulosic Feedstocks, Part 1, Colin Mitchinson, Genencor International
• Enzymes for Ethanol from Lignocellulosic Feedstocks, Part 2, Joel Cherry, Novozymes
• Rice Straw to Ethanol
  Dennis Schuetzle, TSS Consultants/REI International

Session II: Biomass and Biofuels: Environmental Issues
Moderator: Martha Gildart, California Biomass Collaborative

• Results from Collaborative's November 2005 Environmental Workshop, Rob Williams, California Biomass Collaborative
• Animal Waste Management and Environmental Quality, James Liebman, Environmental Protection Agency
• Biofuels and the Environment, John Shears, Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies
• Developing Markets for Renewable Energy Credits in California, Lenny Hochschild, Evolution Markets

Afternoon Keynote John Geesman, California Energy Commission

Session III: State Policy and Initiatives Panel
Moderator: Gary Matteson, California Biomass Collaborative

• Status of State Legislation on Conversion Technologies for Municipal Solid Waste, Fernando Berton, California Integrated Waste Management Board
• Results of California's Biomass R&D Initiatives, Val Tiangco, California Energy Commission
• Climate Change Actions and Opportunities for Biomass Management and Use, Sam Hitz, California Climate Action Registry
• Update on State Policy Initiatives and Action Plan for Biomass, Susan Brown, California Energy Commission

Technical Session Wrap-up

• Bryan Jenkins, California Biomass Collaborative

Session IV: Biomass and Biofuels: Business Development Workshop
Moderator: Chris Rosander, UC Merced Small Business Development Center

• Biomass Project Development, Loyd Forrest, TSS Consultants
• Biofuels Project Development, Mark Yancey, BBI Biofuels International
• Project Financing, Jeff Kistner, BBI Biofuels International
• Project Update, Ryan Turner, Pacific Ethanol